Marie Marguerite d'Youville (née Dufrost de
Lajemerais) Born Varennes, Quebec October 15, 1701. Died December 23,
1771. She was a daughter of one of the great families of New France. She
was married in 1712, she was the mother of two children, and became .
widowed in 1730. By 1742 both sons had become priests and Marguerite
worked to ease the plight of the poor. She was joined by other women and
their work extended to the running of the Hôpital Générale. The group of
tireless workers would eventually become a religious order known as the
Grey Nuns. Marguerite was described as a remarkable woman who was
courageous and processed remarkable administrative talent.